Power operated multiple press



April 14, 1964 J. E. BORAH 3,128,501

PO R OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 u I41 4+ l 41% I46 62 L I I l I I 50 l A I 1 /00 70 z 72 l r44 5a 52' l I 9 u I 54 36 I07 0 I [00 I I l 96 m4 I @510 I l l I f FIG. I l I ll 37 In 4 I INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH av ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH BY I 7447,4154

ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 J, BQRAH 3,128,501

POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHNZWE; RAH F I 5. 3 V

ATTORNEY pri 1964 J. E. BORAH ,1

POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May a, 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVHVTOR. JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April 14, 1964 BQRAH 3,128,501

POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8, 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY A ril 14, 1964 J. E. BORAH 3 i2@8,501

POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May a. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 ENVENTOR.

Y JOHN E. BORAH "f f" B F a FE/I,

POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY April l4, 1964 .1. E. BORAH4 POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 8. 1961 FIG. IO

JOHN BY FIG. ll

ATTORNEY POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS Filed May 8. 1 961 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O FIG. l2

INVENTOR. JOHN E. BORAH ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,128,561 POWER OPERATED MULTIPLE PRESS John E. Borah, 815 Mishawaha Ava, Mishawaka, Ind. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 168,523 Claims. (Cl. 18ll7) The present invention relates to a press and more particularly to a multiple press and to a mold handling apparatus for molding articles of rubber and similar materials.

In the rubber industry, a large portion of the business volume involves the production in small orders of articles which are difficult to mold and thereafter remove from the mold cavities after the press has been opened. Regardless of the size of the mold or order for the products, the operation of a press requires at least one operator who frequently stands idly by the press after the mold has been filled with moldable material and the press closed waiting for the moldable material to cure. Further, after the press has been opened and the mold removed therefrom, considerable difiiculty is often encountered in separating the various sections of the mold and ejecting the article or articles therefrom. The removal of the articles may consume as much time as the entire remainder of the molding operation. This conventional procedure, which is widely used throughout the rubber industry, greatly enhances the overall cost of the rubber articles, particularly of those purchased in small orders not warranting the production of large molds, or of large articles requiring large molds which can be handled only when a relatively few cavities are contained therein. It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a press having a plurality of individually operable platens for handling two or more independent molds and for assisting in the separation of the mold sections and removal of the molded articles therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple press, the individual units of which can be operated independently such that one mold is in closed position with the moldable material therein being cured while the other mold is being opened, the molded articles being moved therefrom and the moldable material being inserted in the mold cavity.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide the multiple press which can easily be operated by a single operator to open the mold sections, remove the sections containing the molded articles from the press, ejecting the molded articles from the section and thereafter reassembling the mold with the moldable material therein, without the operator performing any substantial manual manipulation in the entire procedure.

A further object is to provide a structure for supporting the upper mold section of a compression mold, so that said section automatically aligns itself with the remainder of the mold during each closing operation and is separated from the remainder of the mold automatically as the press is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting the upper mold section of a compression mold in the press without the use of bolts, screws or other securing means in difficult to reach locations, permitting the mold section to be easily inserted in the press and removed therefrom and to be effectively and quickly centered in proper position with respect to the other mold sections after it has been inserted in the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for handling a plurality of molds, which can be mounted on conventional presses and operated from standard equipment used in conjunction with conventional presses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple mold handling apparatus which can be operated effectively without any substantial physical labor on the part of the operator and without any special skill or training being required to perform the complete operation.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a press embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the press shown in FIGURE 1 in which the multiple units of the press are shown in fully closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the press shown in the preceding figures with the multiple units shown in fully opened position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the press, showing an intermediate state of the mold removal and article ejection operation;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the press showing another step in the mold removal and article ejecting operation;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the press showing the final stage of the article ejecting operation;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, detailed cross-sectional View of a portion of the mechanism for manipulating a section of the mold shown in the preceding figures;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a mold showing the manner in which the mold sections are assembled and mounted in one of the multiple units;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the press taken on line 99 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a modified form of the mold handling mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the mold attachment device shown in FIG- URE l0; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the press as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIG- URE 1 in particular, numeral 20 designates generally a hydraulic press including a base 22 containing the hydraulic cylinder with ram 24, a ram platen 26, a press head 28 and an intermediate ram platen 30, and four corner posts or tie rods 32, 34, 36 and 38 extending through the enlarged upper end of base 22 and head 28 and being rigidly secured at the lower and upper ends of the base and head by collars 39 and jam nuts 40 at the base, and collars 42 and jam nuts 44 at the head. Ram platen 26 is secured to the upper end of ram 24 and is provided at the corners with bosses journaled on the tie rods. The press shown in the drawings is considered for the purpose of the present description as a conventional hydraulic press with respect to the ram and the operating cylinder therefor, controlled and operated by well known hydraulic equipment including a supply tank, electric driven pressure pump, and standard control valves and relays (not shown). The type of press and the details in construction are included to fully illustrate the construction and operation of the present power operated mold han dling apparatus, the present apparatus being readily adapted to various types of hydraulic presses including the well known slab type press.

The intermediate press platen 30 in effect divides the press into an upper section A and a lower section B, which are substantially the same in construction and operation and may contain identical molds for producing identical articles or may be substantially different for producing articles of entirely different sizes and shapes from one another. The molds shown in the drawings for the ptupose of illustrating the present invention are identical compression molds t and 5d in press sections A and B, respectively, each mold consisting of an upper mold section 52, an intermediate mold section 54 and a lower mold section 56, the same numerals with primes being used to identify like parts in the lower mold and adjacent mold handling apparatus in press section B. The upper mold section contains a core 58 joined integrally to and supported by said section, and intermediate section 54 and lower section 56 contain one or more mold cavities cooperating with the core or cores on the upper section for producing the molded articles. The three mold sections are fully separated from one another when the molded article or articles are removed therefrom. The ram of the press supports a heated lower platen as on which mold 5t? rests, and the head supports a heated upper platen 62 to which the upper mold section is at.ached. The intermediate platen 3% supports on its upper side a heated platen he, and on its lower side a heated platen 66, the lower mold section as resting on platen 64, and upper section 52' of mold Slit being supported by platen 65. The molds 5d and 5i) as illustrated in the drawings contain a single large cavity of cylindrical shape and a cooperating core 5%, ilrewise of a cylindrical shape, for producing a large cup-shaped rubber article with one closed end. Articles of this type are particularly difficult to mold in that the mold sections are necessarily large, and the articles difficult to remove from the mold cavities and the core from the molded article. The present mold operating apparatus overcomes both of these ditliculties and makes it possible for the entire molding operation to be completed with little or no physical exertion on the part of the operator.

The intermediate platen 3% is supported in its suspended position shown in FIGURE 3 by a plurality of vertical rods 70, 72, "i4 and 76 adjacent the four corners of the press, the rods being supported and operated by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 8t), 32, $4 and 86, respectively. Thecylinders are rigidly mounted on extensions S8 and Ml of upper platen 62 on opposite sides of the press. These extensions may be formed integrally with upper platen 62 or may constitute a bracket bolted or otherwise secured to the external edges of the platen. The hydraulic cylinders 89, 82, $4 and 86 retain upper press section A in closed position when lower section B is opened for the purpose of removing the molded products from mold 5b, and assist in the mold opening operation when press section A is opened. While the cylinders may be operated to assist in closing mold Sll as the press is closed, the closing operation is normally performed almost fully by the closing of both press sections 8 and A sequentially.

In order to eliminate the manual manipulation of the mold when the molded articles are removed therefrom and the moldable material inserted therein, upper mold section 52 is secured to the respective upper platens of mold sections A or B, and lower mold section 56 is retained on lower platens of the respective press sections as the press sections are opened. The intermediate mold section 54 remains on lower mold section ss as the press is opened. After the press section, for example B, has been fully opened to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the lower and intermediate mold sections are moved laterally from the press by a pair of hydraulic cylinders )2 and 94 on opposite sides of the press, the cylinder rods 9d and 98', respectively, being connected to the lower mold section by a cross member lllil' bolted to a lower mold plate 1432' and guided by longitudinally movable bars 1% and H95 disposed in the lower platen. Cylinder 2 is rigidly supported on ram platen 26 by a bracket 93, and cylinder 94' is supported on the ram platen by bracket 95'. Plate 1&2 rests firmly on the upper surface of lower platen as and is held thereon by inverted L-shaped track members lit? and 1% on opposite sides of platen as and is guided by these two tracks as the mold sections 54 and so are moved from their position within the press to their extended position as d illustrated in FIGURES l and 4. While rods 96 and 98' of cylinders 92 and 9d and rods ill-d and W5 give substantial support to the lower and intermediate mold sections when they are withdrawn from the press, suificient marginal area of plate W2 remains within the ends of tracks M7 and tea to fully support the mold.

()ne of the important features of the present mold handling and operating apparatus is the manner in which the upper mold section 52 is retained in the press, this structure consisting of a pair of rails Mil and 112 on opposite sides of the mold section and a plate 114 secured to the upper side of the mold section by belts or other suitable securing means and extending at its opposite peripheral edges lid and 118 into grooves 12% and 122 formed on the inner edges of tracks lid and 112. Tracks lid and 112 are attached to an intermediate plate 124 by bolts or screws, and the plate is secured firmly to the underside of platen 62 by a plurality of bolts 126 extending downwardly through the platen into plate 124. The mold section is centered with respect to the lower and intermediate mold sections by a plurality of laterally extending screws 12% in track lid, and screws 13%) in track 3112. By adjusting the screws either inwardly or outwardly, the mold section can be shifted laterally within the press. The mold section and plate TM are slid into position along tracks and 112 from one edge of the press and are held in operating position in the press by four eye bolts or pins 132 extending downwardly through platen extensions 88 and and plate 124 into holes 134 in plate lllld. Lower mold section 56 of press section A is operated by hydraulic cylinders $2 and 94 mounted on intermediate platen 3d of the press by brackets 93 and and connected to the mold section by rods 96 and 98 and cross member 1%. Guide rods ill-4 and H95 are likewise included to guide and support, at least in part, the intermediate and lower mold sections when these sections are withdrawn from the press, in the same manner as the mold sections of press section B.

One of the important features of the structure for supporting the upper mold section is the fact that the mold can float so that any slight misalignment between the upper mold section and the intermediate and lower mold sections will be corrected as the mold sections are closed during the operation of the press. This is accomplished by leaving a slight spacing between the ends of screws 12$ and 13d and the respective edges of plate 114, and providing slightly enlarged holes 134 for eye pins 132. When the mold is to be removed from the press, eye pins 132 are merely removed on one side of the press and the upper mold section slid laterally from the press along tracks 1M and 112. The structure for mounting the upper and lower mold sections within the press are the same in both upper press section A and lower press section B; consequently, a detailed description of the two identical structures will not be given here.

The mechanism for removing the molded articles from the lower and intermediate mold sections is shown in various stages of operation in the drawings and consists of a plunger i l-ll generally rectangular shaped and relatively flat and thin, supported by a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod 142 and 144, respectively. The cylinder is supported by a bracket M6, rigidly mounted on head 28 and preferably containing an adjustment means for moving cylinder 412 and rod 144 longitudinally thereon to adjust the position of plunger 14% with respect to the intermediate and lower mold sections when they are in their withdrawn positions shown in FIGURES l, 4 and 6. After the lower and intermediate mold sections have been withdrawn from the press, plunger Mil is moved by hydraulic cylinder 142 downwardly until the plunger seats on or approaches the upper surface of the intermediate mold section. Thereafter, the plunger is attached to the intermediate mold section by a plurality of bolts 148 extending downwardly through the plunger into threaded holes provided in the intermediate mold section. After the bolts are secured in place, the hydraulic cylinder retracts plunger Mil, thereby lifting the intermediate mold section from the lower mold section sufiiciently to lift the molded articles clear of the lower section and to permit the lower mold section to be returned to the press without the intermediate section thereon. The intermediate mold section is then lowered to a suitable support such as a utility cart 150 illustrated in FIGURE 6. Thereafter, further lowering of plunger 14% causes a knockout member 152 of a suitable size and shape to extend downwardly into and engage the molded rubber article and eject the article from the intermediate mold cavity permitting it to fall into cart 150.

When the molded article has been removed from the intermediate mold section, hydraulic cylinder 142 again retracts plunger 14!) sufficiently to permit the lower mold section to be again moved beneath the intermediate mold section, which is then seated on the lower mold section and the bolts holding the plunger and intermediate mold section disengaged. The plunger is then retracted to its original position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a new charge of moldable material inserted in the mold cavity, and the lower and intermediate mold sections returned to their positions in the press by cylinders 92 and 94. The press, for example section B thereof, is closed with core 58' entering the mold cavity 59' and the mold is retained in the fully closed position for a suflicient time to cure the moldable material and complete the molding operation.

While bolts 148 satisfactorily perform the operation of lifting intermediate mold section 54 from the lower mold section 56 and permit the operation of knockout member 152 to perform the article removing operation, operation of this type of attaching means is somewhat time consuming, since all the bolts must be tightened before the plunger can operate to lift the intermediate mold section. FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified form of the bolt arrangement consisting of a bolt 156 seating on the upper surface of plunger 140 and having a threaded shank 160 for extending into cooperating threaded bores 162 in the intermediate mold section. A laterally extending handle 164 is preferably rigidly attached to head 158 to facilitate tightening and loosening of bolts 156. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 7, the knockout member 152 has been eliminated, and the plunger seats on the upper surface of intermediate mold section 54. This type of attaching means is preferably used when the molded articles remain in the cavity in the lower mold section rather than in the intermediate mold section as previously described.

The time consuming operation involved in connecting and disconnecting the bolts 148 or 156 to and from the intermediate mold section may be eliminated by the magnetic means for performing the lifting operation in conjunction with plunger 140, as illustrated in FIGURE 10. In this modified form of the mold handling mechanism, a plunger 170 similar to previously described plunger 140 is moved vertically by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 172 and rod 174 and is rigidly supported on the lower end of the rod for movement between its raised and lowered positions. The cylinder is rigidly supported on a bracket 176, which in turn is mounted firmly on the head of the press in the same manner as bracket 146. The means for attaching plunger 170 to intermediate mold section 54 consists of two identical magnetic devices 180 and 182 extending through plunger 170 and rigidly secured thereto by angle iron members 184. Since the two magnetic devices are identical in construction and operation, only one will be described in detail herein. Magnetic device 18% consists of a metal housing 186 of cubical shape, a permanent horseshoe magnet 1'88 mounted in housing 186 and movable between the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 11 and the position shown in broken lines in that figure. The magnet is constantly urged to its lower position by a coil spring 191) reacting between the upper panel 192 of housing 186 and a horizontal bar 194 at tached to the magnet. The magnet is lifted from the position shown in FIGURE 11 to the position shown in broken lines by a linkage consisting of bar 194 securely attached by rivets or screws 196 and 198 to the magnet, an inverted U-shaped member 200 secured at its lower ends to the ends of bar 194 and attached in the center of its upper end to a rod 202. The rods 202 of each of the magnetic devices 180 and 182 are connected to a cable 204 by a vertical rod 206, and a horizontal bar 208. Cable 204 extends over a sheave 214 mounted on bracket 176 and terminates within easy reach of the press operator.

In the operation of the foregoing mold handling device, lower and intermediate mold sections are removed from the press in the manner previously described; plunger 170 is then lowered until it is firmly seated on the upper surface of intermediate mold section 54. With magnet 188 in its lowered position as shown in full lines in FIGURE 11, the attraction thereof in both magnetic devices 180 and 182 to the intermediate mold section is suflicient to support the section. Thereafter, retracting the plunger 17 i) lifts the intermediate mold section to permit the lower mold section to be retracted into the press, and the intermediate mold section thence moved to the article ejecting position such as that shown in FIGURE 6. In this modification, no knock-out member 152 is provided on the bottom of the plunger. When the intermediate mold section is to be released from plunger 170, the operator merely pulls cable 204 sufficiently to lift magnet 188 from its lowered position to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11 in opposition to spring 190, thereby diminishing the attraction of magnet 188 to the mold sections and permitting the plunger to be Withdrawn independently of the intermediate mold section. It is thus seen that the foregoing magnetic mechanism eliminates the tedious work of attaching the plunger to the mold sections by tightening bolts or screws as in the first embodiment described.

As a further alternative, electro-magnets of conventional construction may be substituted for magnetic devices 180 and 182. The electro-magnets may be operated from any suitable circuit, including one from a battery, having a control switch for engaging and releasing the mold section.

In the operation of the press, the two molds are mounted in the press sections A and B with the upper section of each mold being held in place by eye pins 132 in floating relationship to the respective intermediate and lower mold sections. After the moldable material has been inserted in the two molds, the press is closed by the operation of ram 24 to the position as shown in FIG- URE 2. When the lower molding and curing operation has been completed, ram 24 is retracted while cylinders 80, 82, 84 and 86 are operated to retain platen 30 in its raised position, thus permitting ram platen 26 to be withdrawn from intermediate platen 30. This operation separates the upper mold section 52 of mold 50' from intermediate mold sections 54 and 56'. The lower and intermediate mold sections are then withdrawn from the press and the molded articles ejected therefrom by plunger or 171 in the manner previously described herein. After the lower and intermediate sections of the mold have been reassembled, moldable material is placed in the mold cavity and the two sections are returned to the press beneath upper mold section 52' of mold 50'. Ram 24 is again operated to close the press and mold the articles in mold 50.

The charge in the upper mold section has now become properly cured, and the articles thereof are ready to be removed from the mold 50. Ram 24 is again retracted, but in this operation, it is retracted only sufiiciently to permit the intermediate platen to move to its lower posi tion without separating the sections of mold 50' and without substantially decreasing the pressure created between ram platen 26 and intermediate platen 30. Hydraulic cylinders 92 and 94 are then actuated to withdraw intermediate mold sections 54 and 56, respectively, of mold 50 from the press for handling by plunger 140 or in the manner described. After the articles have been ejected engaging sm'd track means, means '2 from the withdrawn mold sections and a new charge of moldable material placed in the mold cavity, the two sections are returned to the press section A, and ram 24 again operated to close the press to the position shown in FlGURE 2. The next operation performed is the opening of mold t) and removal of the molded articles therefrom repeating the procedure described.

The foregoing mold handling mechanism can also be used to an advantage in the operation of compression molds Without securing the upper mold section to the head platen as previously described. A two or three section mold before the sections are separated is moved by cylinders 92 and 94 from the press and the top mold section lifted from the bottom or intermediate section by plunger 140 or 170 in the manner described, so that the molded articles can be removed from the cavities in the latter sections.

While the present press is designed to increase the efiiciency of rubber molding practice, utilizing fully the available time the operator can devote to a single press, it also performs the complete operation without any physical strain on the operator and with no additional working time required for the full operation cycle of the two press sections A and B. However, the present molding apparatus employed in sections A and B can be used without the multiple press arrangement and with or without the mold section handling mechanism employing plunger 144) or 170. Various other modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a press for molding articles of rubber and the like using a mold having upper and lower and intermediate mold section-s: a head and a rain platen and an intermediate platen dividing the press into an upper and a lower press section, rods extending upwardly on either side of the press for supporting and positioning said intermediate platen, fluid cylinders connected to said rods for selectively retaining said intermediate platen in its raised and lowered positions, each press section having an upper and lower platen, a pair of spaced guide means on either side of said lower platen, a pair 0t flange means on each side of the lower mold section cooperating with said guide means, a pair of fluid cylinders mounted on opposite sides of said press and having rods therein, cross members connecting said last mentioned rods with said lower mold section for moving said lower and intermediate sections from the press to a posi on projecting firom the press, spaced telescopic means connected to said lower platen and supporting a major portion of said sections beyond the respective edge of said lower platen, a pair of spaced track means secured to the under-side of said upper platen, flange means on said upper mold section for centering said upper mold section in said track means and for loosely retaining said upper mold section in approximate position for engagement with the intermediate section, and a plunger means above the position of the intermediate section when projecting from the press for separating said intermediate mold sections from said lower mold sections of both upper and lower press sections selectively including a fluid cylinder for raising and lowering said plunger and magnetic means releasably holding said intermediate mold sect-ion to said plunger.

2,. In a press for molding articles of rubber and the like using a mold having upper and lower and intermediate mold sections: a head and a ram platen and an intermediate platen dividing the press into an upper and a lower press section, rods extending upwardly on either side of the press for supporting and positioning said intermediate platen, hydraulic cylinders connected to said rods for selectively retaining said intermediate platen in its raised and lowered positions, each press section having an upper and lower platen, a pair of spaced guide means on either side of said lower platen, a pair of flange means on each side of said lower mold section cooperating with said guide means, a pair of hydraulic cylinders mounted on opposite sides of said press and having rods therein, cross members connecting said last mentioned rods with said lower mold section for moving said lower and intermediate sections from the press to a position projecting :firom the press, spaced telescopic means connected to said lower platen and supporting a major portion of said sections beyond the respective edge of said lower platen, a pair of spaced track means secured to the underside of said upper platen, flange means on said upper mold section engaging said track means, means for centering said upper mold section in said track means and for loosely retaining said upper mold section in approximate position for engagement with the intermediate section, a plunger means above the position of the intermediate section when projecting from the press for separating said intermediate mold section from said lower mold section, a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering said plunger, and a means releasably connecting said intermediate mold section to said plunger.

3. In a press tor molding articles of rubber and the like using a mold having upper and lower and intermediate mold sections: a head and a rarn platen and an intermediate platen dividing the press into an upper and a lower press section, rods extending upwardly on either side or" the press for supporting and positioning said intermediate platen, fluid cylinders connected to said rods for selectively retaining said intermediate platen in its raised and lowered positions, each press section having an upper and lower platen, a pair of spaced guide means on either side of said lower platen, a pair of flange means on each side of said lower mold section cooperating with said guide mean-s, a pair of fluid cylinders mounted on opposite sides of said press and having rods therein, cross members connecting said last mentioned rods with said lower mold section for moving said section from the press to a position projecting from the press, spaced telescopic means connected to said lower platen and supporting a major portion of said sections beyond the respective edge of said lower platen, a pair of spaced track means secured to the underside of said upper platen, flange means on said upper mold section engaging said track means, and means for centering said upper mold section in said track means and for loosely retaining said upper mold section in approximate position for engagement with the intermediate section.

4. In a press for molding articles of rubber and the like using a mold having an upper and lower mold section: a head and a ram platen and an intermediate platen dividing the press into an upper and a lower press section, rods connected to said intermediate platen and extending upwardly on either side of the press, means connected to said rods and operating said intermediate platen for selectively retaining said upper and lower mold sections in closed position when said press is in its opened position for independent operation of the two press sections, each press section having an upper and lower platen, a fluid cylinder mounted on each side of said intermediate and lower platens for moving each lower mold section from the press to a position projecting from the press, spaced extensible and retractable means connected to said lower platen and supporting a major portion of said sections beyond the respective edge of said lower platen, and means for retaining said upper mold section in position for alignment with said lower mold section.

5. In a press for molding articles of rubber and the like using a mold having upper and lower and intermediate mold sections: an upper and a lower platen, a pair of spaced guide means on either side of said lower platen, a pair or flange means on each side of said lower mold section cooperating with said guide means, a pair of fluid cylinders mounted on opposite sides of said press and having rods therein, cross members connecting said rods with said lower mold section for moving said lower and 9 intermediate sections from the press to a position projecting from the press, spaced telescopic means oonneoted to said lower platen and supporting a major portion of said sections beyond the respective edge of said lower platen, a pair of spaced track means secured to the underside of said upper platen, flange means on said upper mold section engaging said track means, means for centering said upper mold section in said track means and for loosely retaining said upper mold section in approximate position for engagement with the intermediate section, and a plunger means above the position of the intermediate section when projecting from the press for separating said intermediate mold seotion from said lower mold section including a fluid cylinder for raising and lowering said plunger and magnetic rneans releasably holding said intermediate mold section to said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A PRESS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES OF RUBBER AND THE LIKE USING A MOLD HAVING UPPER AND LOWER AND INTERMEDIATE MOLD SECTIONS: A HEAD AND A RAM PLATEN AND AN INTERMEDIATE PLATEN DIVIDING THE PRESS INTO AN UPPER AND A LOWER PRESS SECTION, RODS EXTENDING UPWARDLY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE PRESS FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING SAID INTERMEDIATE PLATEN, FLUID CYLINDERS CONNECTED SAID RODS FOR SELECTIVELY RETAINING SAID INTERMEDIATE PLATEN IN ITS RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, EACH PRESS SECTIN HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER PLATEN, A PAIR OF SPCED GUIDE MEANS ON EACH SIDE OF THE LOWER MOLD SECTION COOPERATING WITH SAID GUIDE MEANS, A PAIR OF FLUID CYLINDERS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PRESS AND HAVING RODS THEREIN, CROSS MEMBERS CONNECTING SAID LAST MENTIONED RODS WITH SAID LOWER MOLD SECTION FOR MOVING SAID LOWER AND INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS FROM THE PRESS TO A POSITION PROJECTING FROM THE PRESS, SPACED TELESCOPIC MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LOWER PLATEN AND SUPPORTING A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID SECTIONS BEYOND THE RESPECIVE EDGE OF SAID LOWER PLATEN, A PAIR OF SPACED TRACK MEANS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID UPER PLATEN, FLANGE MEANS ON SAID UPPER MOID SECTION ENGAGING SAID TRACK MEANS, MEANS FOR CENTERING SAID UPPER MOLD SECTION IN SAID TRACK MEANS AND FOR LOOSELY RETAINING SAID UPPER MOLD SECTION IN APPROXIMATE POSITION 